NASCAR Penalty Violation Examples

Last updated: 1-23-2026

10.5.2.2 – Level 1 (L1) Penalties and Penalty Options

A. Violations that may result in an L1 Penalty include, but are not limited to:

  • Failure to meet minimum Post-Race weight.
  • Team-sourced parts that do not comply with the NASCAR Rules (not rising to a higher level).
  • Failure to submit and receive approval of parts in accordance with the NASCAR Rules.

B. L1 violations may be found Pre-Race, In-Race, Post-Race, or outside of Race inspection.

C. Violations found Pre-Race will be issued Post-Race.

D. Violations found In-Race and/or during at-track Post-Race inspection will result in a Race Disqualification as outlined in Section 10.5 Penalty Levels and Definitions and are subject to additional Penalty(ies) listed in the L1 Penalty Options Table.

E. Violations found after Post-Race inspection has been completed will result in a Penalty(ies) listed in the L1 Penalty Options Table and the vehicle’s Race finishing position will not count towards eligibility for non-Championship Events and tie breakers.

F. L1 Penalty options are outlined in:

Table 10.5.2.2.f L1 Penalty Options

L1 PENALTY OPTIONS

LEVEL POINTS CHASE ELIGIBILITY TEAM EVENT ROSTER MEMBER(S) SUSPENSION TEAM EVENT ROSTER POSITION SUSPENSION VEHICLE SUSPENSION FINE
1 20-75 N/A 1-3 Races 1 Position N/A $25,000 -$100,000

10.5.2.3 – Level 2 (L2) Penalties and Penalty Options

A. Violations that may result in an L2 Penalty include, but are not limited to:

  • Failure to meet engine seal or engine inspection requirements.
  • Modifying Next Gen Single-Source Vendor parts (not rising to a higher level).
  • Major external engine parts, not part of the long block , that differ from what is required by the NASCAR Rules.
  • Anything that alters or affects the engine control system wiring harness and/or the certified engine control system wiring sub-harnesses.
  • Unauthorized onboard electronics.
  • Violation of the Vehicle Testing Policy (not rising to a higher level).

B. L2 violations may be found Pre-Race, In-Race, Post-Race, or outside of Race inspection.

C. Violations found Pre-Race will be issued Post-Race.

D. Violations found In-Race and/or during at-track Post-Race inspection will result in a Race Disqualification as outlined in Section 10.5 Penalty Levels and Definitions and are subject to additional Penalty(ies) listed in the L2 Penalty Options Table.

E. Violations found after Post-Race inspection has been completed will result in a Penalty(ies) listed in the L2 Penalty Options Table and the vehicle’s Race finishing position will not count towards eligibility for non-Championship Events and tie breakers.

F. L2 Penalty options are outlined in:

Table 10.5.2.3.f L2 Penalty Options

L2 PENALTY OPTIONS

LEVEL POINTS CHASE ELIGIBILITY TEAM EVENT ROSTER MEMBER(S) SUSPENSION TEAM EVENT ROSTER POSITION SUSPENSION VEHICLE SUSPENSION FINE
2 75-120 N/A 4-6 Races 1-2 Positions N/A $100,000-$250,000

10.5.2.4 – Level 3 (L3) Penalties and Penalty Options

A. Violations that may result in an L3 Penalty include, but are not limited to:

  • Counterfeiting or modifying Next Gen Single-Source Vendor parts.
  • Engine violations (e.g., cubic inch displacement, compression ratio, long block assembly, internal components).
  • Use of performance-enhancing devices (e.g., nitrous oxide, vacuum leaks, etc.).
  • Modifying tires or fuel.
  • ECU/EFI violations.
  • Violation of the Vehicle Testing Policy.

B. L3 violations may be found Pre-Race, In-Race, Post-Race, or outside of Race inspection.

C. Violations found Pre-Race will be issued Post-Race.

D. Violations found In-Race and/or during at-track Post-Race inspection will result in a Race Disqualification as outlined in Section 10.5 Penalty Levels and Definitions and are subject to additional Penalty(ies) listed in the L3 Penalty Options Table.

E. Violations found after Post-Race inspection has been completed will result in a Penalty(ies) listed in the L3 Penalty Options Table and the vehicle’s Race finishing position will not count towards eligibility for non-Championship Events and tie breakers.

F. L3 Penalty options are outlined in:

Table 10.5.2.4.f L3 Penalty Options

L3 PENALTY OPTIONS

LEVEL POINTS CHASE ELIGIBILITY DRIVER AND/OR TEAM OWNER TEAM EVENT ROSTER MEMBER(S) SUSPENSION TEAM EVENT ROSTER POSITION SUSPENSION VEHICLE SUSPENSION FINE
3 120-180 No 6 Races 1-2 Positions 1 $250,000-$500,000

10.5.2.5 – Race Disqualification Penalties

A. Level 1, 2, and 3 violations found In-Race and/or during at-track Post-Race inspection will result in a Race Disqualification.

B. Race Disqualification includes, but is not limited to:

  • Last-place driver and Team owner Points.
  • Loss of Stage Points.
  • Last-place Race purse, contingency, and special awards as outlined in the Official Entry Blank and/or applicable Team Owner Agreement.

10.5.2.6 – Safety Violations and Penalty Options

A. Any violations compromising Event or participant safety will be addressed on a case-by-case basis with the highest level of seriousness.

B. Examples of safety violations include, but are not limited to:

  • Failure to comply with personal safety equipment requirements (see Section 14.3.1 Personal Safety Equipment).
  • Loss of wheel(s) due to improper installation.
  • Loss or separation of ballast.
  • Altering or tampering with SFI, FIA, or Snell equipment or safety labels.

C. Safety violations may be found at any time during an Event.

D. Loss of a tire(s)/wheel(s) during an Event may result in:

  • Pit road (yellow line to yellow line): Yellow flag – tail of field; Green flag – pass-through penalty.
  • Beyond pit road: Two Race suspension for two rostered pit crew members for the Series in which the Penalty occurred and two-lap penalty.

E. Loss or separation of ballast will result in a four Race suspension of the crew chief, car chief, and head engineer (or their equivalents) listed on the Team Event Roster. If the source vehicle cannot be identified, all entries from the Team/Organization associated with the lost ballast may receive suspensions.